National Republican., 1887-11-17
A TERRIFIC FALL.
A Passenger Elevator Drops Eighty
Feet, But no One IL Injured,

Fect, but no Ono Is Injured.
Fifteen or twenty prominent business
men Of the city sat near the elevator shaft
on the second floor Of the Palais Royal
building last night at s o'clock. They had
assembled at the Invitation OF Mr.. Lsner
and Mr.. +. T. Ellitharpe to witness an ex-
hibition Of the powers Of the Ellithorpe air.
cushion for elevators.
Despite the solid appearance OF the we'll
fed and comfortably clad crowd, It was
evident that they were not all at ease; In
fact the majority Of them were vlsibly ner-
lous. This was probably due to the fact
that IL was customary on such occasions for
select few to form an excursion party and
go down with the elevator when the rope
was cut, the latter operation being neces-
sary part, OF the programme.
On the top 1oor-the sixth story-was q
little knot OF interested people, some Of
them employees. Three representatives Of
the press were also on hand, seeing, In Joy
full anticipation, the possibility OF large
The wire cable had been loosened from the
top Of the cab and the 2,200- pound weight
hung suspended over a depth Of about
eighty feet. supported only by hempen
rope. On the floor OF the cab were nine
eggs, TWO OF them resting on the soft side
OF brick; two glasses filed with water
were also placed on the floor, but, much to
the relief of everybody but the scribes, no
human sacrifice was required on this oc-
casion, 1t being considered sufficient to
make the experimental fall with no other
passengers than the incipient chickens, the
wnter, and the inanimate brick.
Mr.. Ellithorpe, jr., then instructed Mr..
West, OF the Post, In the use OF villainous
looking instrument prepared for the occa-
sion. IL consisted OF huge and sanguin-
ary appearing carving knife, fastened by
screws TO long wooden handle, and by
means OF this was the supporting rope to
be cut, when the last Of three signal
whistles sounded up from the lower floor.
With hlanched cheek aud trembling hand
did the daring editor await the shrill com
mand, while near him stood brother IN
the craft, watch in hand, to note the num-
ber OF minutes consumed In the rope.sawing
operation. The suspense was awful. Three
ehirps In quick succession sounded up
the shaft, and then, as mercilessly as
though he was q sheriff cutting short the
mortal career of gross of anarchists, Mr..
West drew the keen blade across the
strained fbers q few times, and then-''let
her go, Gallagher" The noise was terrific,
and everybody Immediately and unanl-
mously agreed that the elevator cab was no
more. There was rush for the basement,
and the trip was made through cloud Of
duet. Resting at the bottom Of the shaft
was the runaway, after having acquired a
falling force equal to nearly 10000 pounds.
Examination showed the cause of the
crash; the large mirror which has been
smiled into by so many OF Washington's
"fairest and dearest" was In fragments on
the floor, forced out by the rush OF air. In
Its fall 1t had scraped the brick and
smashed all the eggs save one. The glass
had not been securely fastened, and the air
cushion was none the less success, Tor the
sound egg (not hard boiled) was proof that
the shock was very slight. The glass in
| the electric annunciator was whole, and
everything else was in good condition after
trip that, under ordinary circumstances,
would have made match-timber OF the cab.
The only sad man was the Post represent
alive. His conscience told him that he
with his little carving knife had done the
| deed, and therefore he felt as though he
| ought to pay for the glass; he was, how
ever, true to the traditions Of journalism
and marched out without attempting to
force his gold on the proprietor.
A number Of people took away pieces OF
the glass as souvenirs Of the event, and
| one dudish, youth sureptitiously puriolned
the surviving brick.
When the new glass has been reset, It Is
very probable that Mr.. Lisner will (as a
| special inducement to purchasers OF more
than $5 worth Of goods) give free elevator
"drops," and allow each passenger to take
away a part Of anything that happens to
break loose on the journey.
Mr.. Ellithorpe will fit several Of his in.
ventions to other elevators In town, and
Will give public tests Of the same shortly.